Rear compartment lock striker



` Filed oct. '7, 1957 May 12, 1959 R. M. Fox ETAL 2,886,365

REAR COMPARTMENT Locx STRIKER I 3 sheets-sheet 1 May 12, 1959 R. M. Fox ET AL 2,886,365

REAR COMPARTMENT Looxy STRIKER Filed oct. '7, 1957 l f s sheets-sheet 2 1N VENTOR:

May 12, 1959 R. M. FAox I -IT AL 2,886,365

REAR COMPARTMENT LOCK STRIKER Filed Oct. '7, 1957 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS I AraR/vfy States Patent REAR COMPARTMENT LOCK STRIKER Robert M. Fox, Detroit, and Russell A.Grout, Royal Oak, Mich., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 7, 1957, Serial No. 688,606 6 Claims. (Cl. 292-'-341.18)

This invention relates to a striker for a door latch, and more particularly to a striker which 'is adjustable in two directions with reference to the latch.

One feature of the invention is that it provides animproved striker for a door latch; another feature of the invention is that it provides a striker which is adjustable in two different directions relative to the latch bolt; a further feature of the invention is that it provides a striker including an anchor plate for attachment to a vehicle body and having means for securing a retainer plate to the anchor plate for adjustment in one direction; and still another feature of the invention is that `a striker member is adjustably clamped between the anchor plate and the retainer plate for adjustment in directions at right angles to the direction of adjustment of the retainer plate.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the drawings, in which: a l

Fig. l is :a fragmentary longitudinal section through the rear portion of an automobile including part of the body and part of the deck lid and 'showing the novel striker, the section being taken along the line 1-1'of Fig. 2'is a'. transverse section taken along the line 2.--2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is an exploded View of the striker, the parts being removedfrom the automobile body;l

In automobile door latching arrangements a latch is generally carried on' the'door forengagement with a striker which is mounted on the body'. In the past, it has been conventional to mount the striker so that itucanvbe adjusted to insure proper engagement=with the latch Ibolt. v, o*

Usually, this adjustment is conined to one line of direction. In many instances, particularly where the latch includes a guide member for engagement with the striker to align the latch and striker parts as the door is closed, it is desirable to provide for universal adjustment of the striker, and this invention provides a novel striker which may easily be adjusted in either of two directions at right angles to each other. By virtue of the universal adjustment, the striker may easily be aligned with the door latch.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as being mounted on an automobile having a deck lid which carries a latch designated generally as 12. The latch includes a frame 14 which is secured by bolts 16 to a support plate 18 mounted within the deck lid. A stud 20 projects from the latch frame 14 and pivotally mounts a bifurcated latch bolt 22. The lower end of the bolt projects below the lower edge of the deck lid and'is formed with spaced fingers 22a and 22b which dene between them a keeper engaging notch 22e. A detent 24 is pivoted on the latch frame by means of -a stud 26, the detent being formed as a bell crank having one arm 24a adapted to engage a shoulder 22d on the bolt to hold the bolt in latched position and a second upstanding arm 24b for engagement by a key-operated rollback 28. This rollback may be operated in conventional manner by a key inserted from outside the vehicle into a ICC lock cylinder 30. A spring 32 connected between the detent and the bolt urges the bolt toward unlatched position and urges the detent arm 24a toward the bolt to insure latching thereof. Overlying the bolt 22 is a plate 34 having a lower end portion 34a extendingdown below the lower edge of the deck lid and acting as a guide member to insure alignment of the deck lid with the striker as' the deck lid is closed.

In Figs. l and 2, the striker is designated generally at 38 and is mounted on the automobile body 39 -for' engagement by the latch bolt 22. Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the striker removed from the body.

As shown best in Fig. 3, the striker comprises three parts: an anchor plate 40 adapted to be mounted on the vehicle body; a retainer 42 mounted on the anchor plate for transverse adjustment relative thereto; and the striker member 38 adjustably clamped between the anchor plate and the retainer for adjustment relative to the retainer.

The anchor plate 40 isl secured to the body at its lower end 40a by welding or other conventional means, and as shown'best in Fig. 3, the anchor plate has centrally dis-I posed securing'means here Ishown as weld nuts 46.v Adjacent opposite sides, the anchor plate is' formed with transversely extending elongated slots -48. The retainer 42 has centrally disposed transversely elongated slots50 located so asl 4to overlie the weld nuts 46 so that the retainer may be clamped to the anchor plate by bolts S2. When the bolts are loose, the retainer plate may -be' adjusted transversely on the anchor plate within limits defined by guide lingers 54 which project from the re-V tainer 42 into the slots` 48. a

The striker 38 has a base 60 formed with a pair of. openings 62 to admit the bolts' 52. As may be seen from'- Figs. 2 and 3, these openings are large enough to'permit' adjustment of the striker in longitudinal 'and transverse directions. At opposite sides of 'its baste thejstriker sidewalls 64 and 66, each of which, in conjunction witl`1` the base, is formed with an opening to dene a :slot 68." The guide fingers 54- extend through thesefslot's'a'nd vlimit longitudinal adjustment of the striker relative to the retainer 42. The walls of the striker are yjoined-by a web 70, The wall 64 is rolled inwardly at its'top asshownat 72. and' belowi the topfed'gethere is a punched outportion which is rolled inwardly at 74 in a manner to be complementary to the rolled edge 72.V The rolled edges' 72, 74 form' a ystriker bar for e'n'gagement"in the latching slotI 22o vofthe vlatch bolt 1222i. rWhexl'- in'y latched position;

one arm 22a of the latch bolt lies above the rolled edge 72 land the other arm 22b of the bolt underlies the rolled edge 74 and projects through the punched out portion of the striker wall. The opposite wall 66 of the striker is rolled inwardly at its top edge as shown in Fig. 3 at 76 to provide a centrally disposed topopening to admit the guide member 34a of the latch.

After the striker parts are assembled on the automobile body, the bolts 52 may be loosened and the striker member may be adjusted transversely of the automobile by moving the striker and the retainer transversely relative to the anchor plate within the limits dened by the guide ngers 54 which project through the guide slots 48 in the anchor plate. The striker may also be adjusted longitudinally with reference both to the anchor plate and the retainer Within limits defined by the guide fingers 54 in the striker slots 68. Means for limiting transverse movement between the striker and the retainer comprise ears projecting from each corner of the retainer and complementary abutments on the striker formed by the opposite striker walls 64 and 66. This prevents the striker from becoming twisted on the retainer. Despite the fact that the parts are held against twisting with reference to each other, universal adjustment is obtained since the striker and retainer may be adjusted as a unit transversely of the 3 anchor plate and the striker may be adjusted longitudinally on the retainer. When the striker is properly positioned to receive the guide stud 34a as shown in Fig. 2 to lengage with the latch bolt, the bolts 52 may be tightened to hold the parts in their proper relationship.

Y While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore,rin the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theI invention as set forth in the appended claims.

i We claim:

1. A latch striker of the character described, including: a body member having elongated slots therein, a retainer secured to said body member, said retainer having guide ngers projecting into said slots, a striker member adjustably clamped between said body member and said retainer, said striker member having a latch bolt retaining part and being formed with guide openings through which said guide fingers project, said guide openings being elongated in a direction at right angles to the direction of extent of said slots, and means for limiting transverse movement between said striker and retainer.

2'. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned means comprise ears projecting from opposite sides of said retainer and complementary abutments on said striker.

3. A latch striker of the character described, including: an anchor plate adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body, said anchor plate being formed adjacent opposite sides with transversely extending elongated slots and said anchor plate having centrally disposed securing means thereon, a retainer mounted on said anchor plate for transverse adjustment relative thereto, said retainer having guide fingers projecting into said slots, and a striker member adjustably clamped between said anchor plate and said retainer, said striker member having a latch bolt engaging part and an opening adjacent said part for receiving a latch guide, said striker member being formed with guide openings through which said guide fingers project, said guide openings being elongated in directions at right` clamped between said anchor plate and said retainer, said striker member having a latch bolt engaging part and said striker member being formed. with guide openings through which said guide iingers project, said guide openings being elongated in directions at right angles to the direction of extent of said slots, and means for limiting transverse movement between said striker and retainer.

5. A latchstriker of the character described, including: an anchor plate adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body, said anchor plate being formed adjacent opposite sides with transversely extending elongated slots, a retainer mounted on said anchor plate for transverse adjustment relative thereto said retainer having guide fingers' projecting into said slots, a striker member adjustably clamped between said anchor plate and said retainer, said striker member having a latch bolt engaging part and said striker member being formed with guide openings through which said guide lingers project, said guide openings being elongated in directions at right angles to the direction of extent of said slots, and means for limiting transverse movement between said striker and retainer comprising ears projecting from opposite sides of said retainer and complementary abutments on said striker.

6. A latch striker ofthe character described, including: an anchor plate yadapted to be mounted on a vehicle body, said anchor plate being formed adjacent opposite sides with transversely extending elongated slots and said anchor plate having centrally disposed securing means thereon, a retainer mounted on said anchor plate for transverse adjustment relative thereto,A said retainer having guide fingers projecting into said slots, a striker member adju-stably clamped between said anchor plate and said retainer, said striker member having a latch bolt engaging part and an opening adjacent said part for receiving a latch guide, and said striker member being formed with guide openings through which said guide iingers project, said guide openings being elongated in directions at right angles to the direction ofV extent of said slots, and means for limiting transverse movement between said striker and retainer comprising ears projecting from opposite sides of said retainer and complementary abutments on said striker.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,572,428 Austine Oct. 23, 1951 2,677,262 Vigmostad May 4, 1954 2,709,910 Vigmostad June 7, 1955 

